Aldridge expects defensive adjustments by Rockets

With Terrence Jones, right, struggling against LaMarcus Aldridge in Game 1, the Rockets are considering other defensive options.

Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge expects the Rockets to defend him with Dwight Howard more in Game 2 of the Western Conference playoffs than they did Sunday. Howard has said as much, but that doesn't change Aldridge's plans.

"We figured they would change it up and would probably put him on me more and would probably bring him baseline (to help) more," Aldridge said. "It's the playoffs. Teams make changes. We're going to try to be ready for anything.

"I don't think it changes anything for me. I'm still going to try to play the same way, and I'm still going to try to take the same shots."

Double-teams coming?

Aldridge, who scored 46 points in the series opener, also could see more double-teams - or at least more help when he is in the low post on Terrence Jones or against the Rockets' smaller lineups and switching defenses. But he does not want to concern himself too much with adjusting.

"I don't want to go into the game thinking they're going to do all these crazy things and be passive," Aldridge said. "I'm going to go into the game like I'm going to have one-on-one coverage, and if they double me, I'll make the reads. I'm not going to psych myself out by saying they're going to double me. I'll make reads if they do.

"I don't think they doubled me all year. I had some good games versus them. I think they're a traditional team that wants to go one-on-one."

As for the Rockets' plan, coach Kevin McHale said: "We are going to do some stuff differently. You watch the game and find out what it is."

Asik seeks another shot

One option that didn't last long in Game 1 was Omer Asik. His stint on Aldridge lasted just three minutes before he picked up his third foul. Asik never was on the floor with Howard again, though that could be one of the changes McHale has planned.

Asik said defending Aldridge is the top priority and that if he is back on him, the plan will be to battle him better before Aldridge catches the ball, rather than after he is going up for his shot.

"The first thing is to stop LaMarcus Aldridge," Asik said. "He killed us last game, and going into this game, we have to do our best to help stop him a little bit more.

"I wasn't able to do much because I wasn't able to play much. I always try to make it hard on him before he catches the ball, to make him maybe tired before he gets the ball. … It's hard to guard him, but we will try our best."

Jonathan Feigen has been the Rockets beat writer since 1998 and a basketball nut since before Willis Reed limped out for Game 7. He became a sports writer because the reporter that was supposed to cover the University of Delaware basketball team decided to instead play one more season of college lacrosse and has never looked back.

Feigen, who has won APSE, APME and United States Basketball Writers Association awards from El Campo to Houston, came to Texas in 1981 to cover the Rice Birds, was Sports Editor in Garland before moving to Dallas to cover everything from the final hurrah of the Southwest Conference to SMU after the death penalty.

After joining the Houston Chronicle in 1990, Feigen has covered the demise of the SWC, the rise of the Big 12 and the Rockets at their championship best.